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“We’ve incorporated solar seamlessly into metal standing seam roofs with our new PowerFit 20 modules. These modules provide a much more aesthetic approach to solar for new homes and retrofits.”
~Philip Gao, CEO
First installation of our PowerFit20 solar modules
We are excited to announce the successful installation of our new PowerFit20 solar modules. The installation was completed by Southern California-based installer, Sunergy, on a residence in beautiful Glendora, CA. The modules were mounted easily in less than one day between the standing seams on the metal roof.
The residence had 42 modules totaling 2.52 kW of Sunflare PowerFit20 installed. This included 11 P370 SolarEdge optimizers and a 3kW SolarEdge inverter.
One significant contention by homeowners is how traditional solar can ruin the house’s aesthetics. Our low-profile PowerFit20 modules made the installation look pre-planned and integrated. Architectural lines remain the same and the modules are nearly invisible from the street. By using a butyl-based adhesive to mount the modules directly on the roof, there were no penetrations to the roof. This is one of the unique benefits of the PowerFit20 modules that no other solar competitor offers.
Where do PowerFit20 solar modules fit?
Specifically designed for metal standing seam roofs, PowerFit20 modules do not need racks or ballasts since it mounts directly to the surface. The space between the standing seams must be at least 15.5 inches wide to accommodate the module and wire management system. The distance between the seams must also be smooth with no large ribs or striations. Any licensed solar installer or electrician can install the PowerFit20 modules.
Our PowerFit20 modules are lightweight and flexible. Being only 3.7 pounds, 15.3 inches wide, and 64.4 inches long, each module is easily manageable by one person. Installation time is reduced significantly due to the simple installation process. Just peel the backing off the butyl-based adhesive and stick to your roof. No holes, and no worrying about leaks. How to order PowerFit20 solar modulesWe now have the modules in stock at our Southern California warehouse. Both the modules and wire management system are currently going through our QC process. Once the QC process is complete, we will start shipping orders out according to the order in which they were received.
To join the PowerFit20 Waitlist, please click here.
If you are interested in placing an order for our PowerFit20 solar modules, your solar installer can purchase them through your local CED Greentech electrical supplier. If you don’t have a local supplier, please reach out to us and we will be able to connect you with one of our distributors.
To learn more about our PowerFit20 solar modules or Sunflare’s other products, visit our website here.
La Verne, California January 30, 2020 Sunflare’s PowerFit 20 is a light, thin, flexible and nearly invisible solar panel that brings energy without the ugly. Sunflare’s new PowerFit 20 lies flat and fabulous, nestling in between the seams of metal standing seam roofs. These modules are for those architects and builders who value the power of aesthetics as well as power of the sun.
Each PowerFit panel is 60 watts and can be seamlessly connected to cover whatever length the roof demands. Installation is fast, easy and low-cost. With PowerFit 20 there are no roof penetrations needed. The modules come with a butyl adhesive backing--just peel and stick for a secure hold that can withstand gale force winds. Because the modules are light and thin, staging at the installation site takes less than ¼ of the time that staging with traditional panels would take.
Due to the distinct chemistry of Sunflare panels--Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenide –the cells deliver more energy at dawn and dusk than traditional solar panels. And as with all Sunflare modules, there is a bypass diode for each individual cell. This means when a cell is shaded, only that individual cell is inactive. Traditional solar panels have a bypass diode per string of cells. Therefore, if just one cell is covered the whole string will not produce power. If the shade is across a single row, the entire panel can be knocked out.
PowerFit 20 modules are produced in an eco-friendly, energy-efficient manufacturing process. Sunflare manufacturing results in a scant 10% of the detrimental global warming gas emissions that silicon panels use from birth through transport to an installation site. The manufacturing process uses very little water, and that which is used is clean and can be reused. The spent materials are recycled. And the Sunflare panels don’t use glass, don’t need aluminum racking, and are just one quarter of the weight of a silicon panel all by themselves.
Sunflare is the leader in the next generation of solar technology, reinventing the energy landscape. The company has developed a variety of patented products to break through the barriers that have constrained solar markets. Sunflare CEO Philip Gao said, “PowerFit20 furthers our goal of inspiring rapid adoption of solar energy for a healthier planet.”
PowerFit 20 is available for pre-order now
https://sunflare.sunflaresolar.com/powerfit-20
Adventure Ready, the adventure distributor and retailer which specializes in unique, tailored products designed for overland exploration announced they are now offering Sunflare solar panels for the Alu-Cab Expedition Gen 3.
The 200W/36V Sunflare solar module is seamlessly adhered to the Alu-Cab tent and powers a refrigerator, phone, laptops, portable speakers, lights and more.
“Sunflare is an ideal solar solution for many recreational vehicle applications from trailers to overland vehicles,” said Philip Gao, Sunflare’s CEO. “Our modules are adhesive-backed, ultra-lightweight, and can easily be installed by manufacturers. Because Sunflare is flexible it can be curved to fit any surface. It is so thin it does not create any wind drag.”
It’s durable because it’s top sheet is a combination ETFE/PET material, which has nearly the same optical and moisture barrier performance of the common rigid silicon panel with glass front sheets, without the weight and fragility.
Tom Hession-Herzog from Adventure Ready said, “Sunflare is an ideal solution for adding solar to rooftop tents on vehicles because it is lightweight and customizable. We don’t have to accommodate for special racks or worry about angling the panels at a certain degree to optimize their functionality. Sunflare makes getting off-grid and bringing the comforts of home easier and possible for longer periods of time.”
The Sunflare module is flexible and light because it’s on a .127mm stainless steel substrate with microns semiconductors.
The Sunflare module performs better in low light conditions capturing approximately 10% more energy from dawn to dusk.
In addition, shading is less of a problem. The modules have bypass diodes on each individual cell. This means that when a cell is being shaded, only that individual cell will be inactive. Most silicon panels suffer from more severe shading issues, because any shadow knocks out the whole row of cells.
The Sunflare modules can handle constant flexing without developing microcracks like other modules that have silicon cells can. Therefore, Sunflare panels will perform better for more years.
It is environmentally cleaner because it emits 1/10 of the Green House Gases in manufacturing manufacture than silicon and does not use toxic chemicals.
Sunflare partners with original equipment manufacturers to produce custom sizes to add value to all types of recreational vehicles to provide the ultimate outdoor experience.
Adventure Ready, was an early adaptor of solar technology and is the first overlander to integrate Sunflare into the Alu-Cab rooftop tent.
For more information about Sunflare, visit www.sunflaresolar.com.
Parties interested in the Alu-Cab tent with Sunflare can contact Adventure Ready, LLC for pricing and purchasing information at www.adventure-ready.com.
About Sunflare
Sunflare is a solar technology innovator and the first company to achieve mass production of flexible, light, affordable CIGS solar panels with its Capture4 technology.Capture4 is a proprietary cell-by-cell manufacturing process that offers custom module sizes. Their technology has the cleanest environmental footprint. Sunflare’s current capacity is 20MW, and will be expanding to 40 MW in 2019.
Media Contact
Laura Baumgartner
Asylum Public Relations
lbaumgartner@asylumpr.com
480-264-5133
LA VERNE, Calif., (PR NEWSWIRE): Sunflare is thrilled to announce a new partnership with OK4WD as its preferred solar distributor for Overland vehicles.
OK4WD is the preeminent supplier to the off-road, 4 x 4 performance truck and auto market. They have 30 years of wisdom and tons of expertise enhancing the ride of your life, or the ride of your weekend.
"We are incredibly excited to be working with OK4WD not only because they offer great quality products and service, but also because we share the same values around sustainability,” said CEO, Philip Gao.
Sunflare has expanded the imagination of product manufacturers and after-market distributors who are looking to provide eco-friendly, durable products for outdoor adventurers. The Flex60 solar panel is light, thin, flexible and rugged and can be easily integrated into the roof of vehicles and camping equipment to provide power way off the grid.
"The Sunflare Flex60 solar panel is perfect for roof-top tents like AluCab. It’s easy to install and fits beautifully--almost invisibly, on the hard shell. It’s great for powering lights, audio, refrigerators or other gear to keep your outdoor life going”, said Rin Oostdyk, Brand Manager North America.
Sunflare modules are more flexible than silicon-based solar panels. That makes them easier to install and eliminates the micro-cracking that silicon cells experience after the flexing of sport and recreational driving. Micro-cracking compromises the electrical integrity and reduces the power output of the panels over time.
In addition, the Sunflare panels are better in partial shade. Each cell has a bypass diode so that only the shaded cell turns off. Other panels are set in strings so that if one cell in a string is shaded, the whole string goes out. Depending where the shade is hitting, the whole panel can be knocked out.
OK4WD will carry three FlexTM sizes: 180 watts, 125 watts and 105 watts for aftermarket installation on of Roof Top tents, teardrop trailers and RV’s. They will also carry panels at retail and online.. Click here for more information (OK4WD.com).
Sunflare is a leader in the next generation of solar technology, reinventing the energy landscape.
The company has perfected a new, proprietary technology that revolutionizes CIGS solar (link to our website https://www.sunflaresolar.com/our-technology).
Every Sunflare panel is made with SUN2 cells that start with high-quality stainless steel, then are layered with semiconductor materials only a few micrometers thick. This production process is the environmentally cleanest solar manufacturing in the world. It results in 1/10 of the Global Warming Potential of silicon solar panels.1
1.The increase on earth’s temperature is related to the increase of the emission of gases such as CO2, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide and CFCs from man made sources, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. Global Warming Potential is measured as kilograms of gas equivalents.
The source of the Sunflare measure is a study called Life Cycle Assessment of CIGS solar modules and future integration. Zbee 2017-12-18 Sandra Ross, Magdalena Juntikka, Study reviewed and approved by Swedish independent third-party institute Miljögiraff AB.
La Verne, California Out of the ashes of the Ventura County, California fires, new life comes from Dvele, the modular smart home builder. The San Diego-based Dvele now offers virtually invisible, and very powerful Sunflare solar panels seamlessly integrated into their roof tops. The system shown, generates over 13,500 kWh, and can cover 100% of the electricity used in the household.
Dvele’s core principles are totally aligned with Sunflare’s. They are 100% environmentally conscious, and they offer advanced technology, beautiful design, and very fast building timelines.
Dvele has high-end finishes using modern materials that are safer, cleaner, and sustainably produced. The houses are also built to Passive House standards. Passive House is the world's most stringent building science and energy efficiency based certification program. It is a conservation first approach to the building envelope, ensuring buildings are also long-lasting and resilient. “Dvele is re-imagining the home buying and living experience, creating healthy and efficient homes that positively impact the lives of our clients,” according to Chief Innovation Officer, Brandon Weiss.
How smart are the Dvele houses? You have the option to have an integrated intelligent home package that allows you to rest easy. Just tell Dveling that you are going to bed and want to wake up at 7:00 am, and then begin to drift off to sleep, because the rest is taken care of for you. The lights start to dim slowly, all exterior doors lock, security measures activate, outside air circulation engages, the temperature adjusts to help you sleep, the lunar power-saving mode turns on, sleep-inducing sounds fill the bedroom and the shades close. You can wake up refreshed at your desired time when the shades gently open. It’s like a dream come true.
Sunflare solar modules are in their own way dream-like. They are light, thin, flexible, and durable. They also have the cleanest footprint and the lowest climate change potential among existing electricity sources. Global warming potential is measured by the increase in emission of gases, which in turn, increase the earth’s temperature overtime. Sunflare’s Flex60 lightweight modules have a CO2 footprint only 1/5 of silicon and a lower climate contribution than both on-shore and off-shore wind.1 And Sunflare’s extremely thin light-absorbing CIGS layer uses less than 1mm of materials in its production process. Over ninety percent of the solar modules in the world today are made from glass-covered, aluminum-framed silicon, which requires temperature of 1800 degrees Celsius to manufacture.
Sunflare modules are 86% lighter than silicon when installed. Flexible Sun2 cells are encapsulated between durable polymer sheets. And the modules are easy to install by just peeling the backing paper from the panel and sticking it down. These panels do not require racking, or ballasts. In addition, a bypass diode at every cell enhances energy production -- even in shade.
“We are excited to partner with Dvele. They reflect everything we believe in, particularly in simplifying smart and environmentally conscious homes. They are changing the modular housing market and we are shifting the energy landscape,” said Philip Gao, CEO of Sunflare.
Source: Life cycle assessment of CIGS solar modules and future integration in Zbee 2017-12-18 Sandra Roos, Magdalene Juntikka. Study renewed and approved by Swedish independent third-party institute Miljögiraff AB.
Sunflare® is thrilled to announce a new partnership as the solar provider to ElectraCraft ™ electric boats.
ElectraCraft, in Westlake Village, CA is the leading manufacturer of electric pleasure boats. They have 44 years of expertise specializing in freshwater lake and salt water harbor boats that pair an environmentally friendly design with easy handling.
“Adding the Sunflare panels allows our trimarans to double their range at full speed. That’s anywhere between 5-6 hours at 6 knots or 8-12 hours at cruising speed. And the they extend the range to around 50 miles from 20,” said Scott Woods, Head of Product Design at ElectraCraft boats.
“What we love about working with ElectraCraft is that they have the same values around environmental responsibility. And that by together we can transform the customers’ experience. That’s exciting,” said CEO, Philip Gao.
Sunflare manufactured custom panels totaling 880 watts to integrate into the fiberglass roofs of ElectraCraft trimarans. ElectraCraft is using a 12 kWh battery bank consisting of 6 Deep-Cycle Marine, Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries in a 48 Volt configuration. That solar system powers five hours of uninterrupted pleasure cruising at full speed while also powering the navigation lights and speaker system.
www.ElectraCraft.com
Sunflare has expanded the imagination of product manufacturers and after-market distributors who are looking to provide eco-friendly, durable products for outdoor recreation. The Flex60 solar panel is light, thin, flexible and rugged and can be easily integrated into the roof of boats of all sizes.
Sunflare modules are more flexible than silicon-based solar panels. That makes them easier to install and eliminates the micro-cracking that silicon cells sustain with the normal flexing of the roof. Micro-cracking compromises the electrical integrity and reduces the power output of the panels over time.
In addition, the Sunflare panels are better in partial shade. Each cell has a bypass diode so that only the shaded cell turns off. Other panels are set in strings so that if one cell in a string is shaded, the whole string goes out. Depending where the shade is hitting on traditional silicon panels, the whole module can be knocked out and not produce any power.
Sunflare is a leader in the next generation of solar technology, reinventing the energy landscape.
The company has perfected a new, proprietary technology that revolutionizes CIGS solar (link to our website https://www.sunflaresolar.com/our-technology).
Every Sunflare panel is made with SUN2 cells that start with high-quality stainless steel, then are layered with semiconductor materials only a few micrometers thick. This production process is the environmentally cleanest solar manufacturing in the world. It results in 1/10 of the Global Warming Potential of silicon solar panels.
Search and Rescue veteran, Branden “Ben” Powell has teamed up with Sunflare to extend the reach of his life-saving missions by adding solar to the roof of his off-road vehicle the Pinzgauer. He told CEO, Philip Gao, that it’s the solar that gives him peace of mind when he needs to spend hours searching far off-the-grid. Here’s what else he had to say as they spoke recently at the Overland Expo East, where his Swiss Army vehicle was attracting massive attention.
How did you first get into search and rescue? I’ve been volunteering for King County Search and Rescue squad for about 10 years. We are about 1000 people strong, all volunteers.
What types of missions do you work on? One part of our mission is to increase awareness of what people think about before they go out into the wilderness. Often people go out without that basic level of preparation. And they get to a situation they didn’t anticipate. It rains and the slip and get injured. Or they go somewhere in the day and it takes them longer than they thought. Then it gets dark, and they get turned around and they get distressed. This can cause confusion and lead to a more serious situation.
As far as actual search, there are many different types. We find hikers all the time. We find missing children. Elderly walkaways. You can’t take 15 -30 cops away from everything else and have them searching an area –so they call us and we can get 60 people out there and begin searching in a systematic way.
And we also work on Urban Crime Scene Investigations. When somebody commits a crime and throws the weapon into the bushes and drives away, the police look a little bit for it but if they can't find it or it’s in a very hard place to get to, we’ll go in and get it.
There are rules about how to approach finding and recording the state of the weapon.We need to follow a certain procedure in order to be admissible as evidence. So it must be handled in a certain way.
We also do body recovery so if there is a deceased body we go in on behalf of the medical examiner and bring it out.
We help with plane crashes, helicopter crashes, and similar situations where you know the bodies are up in an area that’s difficult to go into.
So the job is always different!
How did you find Sunflare? Sunflare found me. A representative of the company reached out and asked if solar would help in our missions.
It was funny because I was just researching battery capacity. for search-and-rescue because we run a lot of electronics—I have 5 radios, and navigation equipment, lights and other gear.
It can get dicey. Especially when I’m running command central for some of our more spread-out missions. I will sometimes sit for 6 or 8 hours by myself up on the top of a ridge managing the flow of critical information between the home team and a mid-range team. Before I had the solar, I was worried about getting a dead battery way out in the wilderness. You just can’t have another vehicle pop out to jump-start my 24-volt battery in the remote, tight locations where we end up.
But with the solar, now I've got 360 watts of power to keep me running. That manages 2 radios, a 100 W siren system speaker, a center flashing light bar, a rear view camera and spotlight , GPS navigation, 360 degree lighting around the vehicle, a winch , an air compressor, 2 V charging plugs for running iablets, phones and anything else that needs charging.
I’m able to run everything and the battery is constantly getting topped off. It gives me a much greater peace of mind and really extend my capacity in the backfield. I have comfort of knowing that there's one more layer of protection and support for me while I'm out in the field and that allows me to focus on the mission. That way I don’t become the next guy the team is looking for!
We are really grateful to Sunflare for partnering with us and helping. It makes a big difference.
Deep in the light blue waters of Key West, Honest Eco’s founding captain, Billy Litmer, says their dolphin watching tours help their guests ‘understand and interact with wildlife from a curious yet courteous proximity.”
In creating his eco touring company, Billy invested in everything he needed to guarantee an unforgettable experience for his guests--knowledge, custom boats, and quality gear. Sunflare’s light, thin, flexible and rugged solar panels are a part of the quality gear that makes Honest Eco successful and sustainable.
His boat is called Squid, and Billy built it from the hulls up. He asked David Walworth, an MIT educated boat designer and builder, to design the perfect boat for the dolphin watching excursions. David suggested that the multihull boat would be a great platform for going electric.
The combination of the Sunflare panels and the lithium batteries make electric propulsion possible—much more than usual the 12-volt battery that runs the lights and radio and other small onboard electrical needs. Squid has 2 two BMW i3 batteries. That’s about 1200 pounds of lithium ion battery. So the solar panels themselves had to be light. The12 custom-sized modules produce 2000 watts of power and weigh as little as 120 pounds combined. That's ¼ of the weight of traditional solar panels.
Squid is one of a kind. it’s Key West’s first electric powered charter boat. It’s one of the first near-coastal hybrid catamarans to make it through the challenging United States Coast Guard certification process. Billy said, “there was not much precedent for getting this boat certified. There was no rule book.” He said on a few occasions they’d work for weeks on the boat just to have the Coast Guard ask him to rebuild it.
Honest Eco’s operates in a wildlife refuge that was set up over 100 years ago and their mission is to use amazing wildlife experiences to help foster conservation and inspire others to make decisions that center around the good of the environment.
One reason Honest Eco picked Sunflare for Squid is that the missions dovetail so well. The Sunfare team is in awe of nature, humbled by it an dreducing the carbon footprint. In fact, Sunflare modules have the smallest carbon footprint from manufacturing onwards. Their footprint is 80% less than traditional solar. That makes Sunflare the cleanest of the clean energies.
“Every day is different with the dolphins,” he says, “They are playful, intelligent and athletic.” One time, Billy saw dolphins actually co-operate to cross a flat—a shallow section of water. He said, “I watched as about 15 of them lined up in a row and took off together to create a wave. They basically surfed over the flat together.”
That’s the type of cooperation the Sunflare team hopes will inspire others to take climate change seriously and create a wave of responsibility for our world.
[LaVerne, CA, and Stockholm, Sweden, September 11, 2019.] Sunflare and partner Midsummer, together the world’s leading developers and suppliers of lightweight, thin, flexible and rugged solar are happy to partner with the Rusnano Group.
This agreement allows Sunflare to create manufacturing alliances in Russia and Eurasia expanding manufacturing capacity, bolstering supply chain volume, and opening additional ports to serve the global solar market.
Sunflare, in partnership with Midsummer, agreed to a Frame Agreement with the Rusnano Group and its Fund for Infrastructure and Educational Programs. Sunflare, Midsummer, and Rusnano will promote light-weight flexible CIGS PV cells in Russia and in other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).
“We are pleased and excited to partner with Rusnano”, said Philip Gao, CEO, Sunflare. “This will expand our world-wide markets for light, flexible, rugged PV”.
Minimal carbon footprint
Sunflare’s production process is the cleanest of all energies and has a minimal carbon footprint compared to silicon modules. One of the biggest benefits of renewable energy is not only the amount of energy that the end product consumes or produces, but also the amount and type of energy required for the manufacture and operation of the product. Sunflare’s FLEX60 solar modules cells have a carbon footprint of only 1/10 of what silicon panels have. For photos of Sunflare modules and applications to https://www.sunflaresolar.com/media/media-kit/press-releases
or contact Elizabeth Sanderson.
For additional information please contact:
Elizabeth Sanderson
Chief Marketing Officer
Sunflare
510-520-2190
About Sunflare
We are leaders in the next generation of solar technology, reinventing the energy landscape. Sunflare has perfected a new, proprietary technology revolutionizing CIGS solar. Capture4, our rapid cell-by-cell manufacturing process yields efficient, low cost CIGS technology. It produces light, thin, flexible and rugged modules that can go places never imagined. The company has developed a variety of patented products to break through the barriers that have constrained new markets.
Our LiteMount commercial modules are in high demand for load-constrained structures. Our Flex60. turns vast, unusable industrial terrain into essential energy generation power houses. And we’ve integrated custom-sized modules into consumer durable goods increasing value and sustainable comfort way off the grid. Sunflare is shifting the energy industry.
About Midsummer
Midsummer is a leading developer and supplier of advanced solar energy technology solutions for the production of thin film solar cells. Its business offering includes equipment for cost-effective manufacturing of thin film solar cells. Midsummer's production process for thin film solar cells has a minimal carbon footprint compared to other production processes for solar modules. Midsummer's DUO system has taken the position as the most widespread manufacturing tool for flexible CIGS solar cells in the world.
Midsummer’s proprietary technology is based on a rapid process for the production of flexible thin film solar cells using sputtering of all layers of the solar cell. The Company's share (MIDS) is traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market with G & W Fondkommission as Certified Adviser, phone: +46 (0)8-503 000 50, email: ca@gwkapital.se. For more information, please visit: https://midsummer.se
About Rusnano
RUSNANO Joint-Stock Company was founded in March 2011 through reorganization of the state corporation Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies. JSC RUSNANO contributes to implementation of the state policy on the development of the nanotechnology industry by investing directly and through investment funds in financially effective high technology projects providing the development of new production facilities in the Russian Federation.
The Fund for Infrastructure and Educational Programs promotes innovative development of the Russian economy in nanotechnology and related high-tech sectors of the economy. The Fund is the only institute for innovative infrastructure development of high-tech industry in Russia. The Fund focuses on the infrastructure for nanotechnology, human resources for the new industries, marketing of innovative products, the legislative framework for innovation, popularization of technology and nano-enabled products. More than 700 deep-tech material-based start-ups are developing with Fund investments in multiple technology domains. The Fund is a part of Rusnano Group. https://en.rusnano.com/about/fiep
Sunflare, the global leader in the next generation of solar technology, invests in two new 5MW solar cell manufacturing tools from Midsummer AB, bringing their total capacity to 20MW.
“In September 2018, Sunflare launched solar technology for the commercial market and demand has grown exponentially. This manufacturing equipment investment represents another in our expansion to serve previously unserved market segments”
Sunflare provides solutions to the toughest problems--from load-constrained structures to the conversion of vast, unusable industrial terrain. Ultimately, Sunflare is turning under-utilized property into essential revenue-generating power.
Sunflare has developed a variety of patented products to break through the barriers that had previously constrained new solar markets. Now their light, thin, flexible and rugged modules can go places never imagined.
It is through its collaborative alliance with Midsummer that Sunflare has developed its full module line of equipment that works in concert with the Midsummer DUO™.
About Sunflare:
Sunflare, (LaVerne, California, USA) is innovating solutions in solar module technology and installation methods. The company produces modules for the commercial and consumer durables markets.
About Midsummer:
Midsummer (Järfälla, Sweden) is the leading developer and supplier of advanced solar energy equipment for CIGS cells. The unique DUOTM system is the most widely distributed manufacturing tool for flexible solar cells in the world. The process is the cleanest, leaving the smallest CO2 footprint of any solar technology anywhere, emitting 80% less CO2.
For more information please contact:
Laura Baumgartner
lbaumgartner@asylumpr.com
Graham Hill, founder of the sustainability-focused media outlet TreeHugger and two-time TED presenter, launched a new compact, off-grid, low-impact showcase house in Maui on a shared lot.
The project – LifeEdited Maui – aims to spread the concept of living big in a small house He’s providing a glimpse of what life can look like in a sharing community with a multi-functional, beautiful and sustainable house.
The idea, Hill says, is that through smart design, technology and maybe a little behavior change, we can all create “smaller” and most importantly happier lives, all while saving money and reducing our environmental footprint.
The Maui project also provides an opportunity for clean lifestyle brands to show off their most innovative products. The star of the show is Sunflare solar, which provided 9kW of its lightweight, thin solar power for the standing seam metal roof on the 1,000 square foot home.
Sunflare’s panels were chosen because of their eco-friendly, energy-efficient manufacturing process and thin, flexible lightweight design. Sunflare manufacturing uses a scant 20% of the energy that silicon panels use from birth through transport to an installation site. The manufacturing process uses very little water, and that which is used is clean and can be reused. The spent materials are recycled. And the Sunflare panels don’t use glass, don’t need aluminum racking, and are just one quarter of the weight of a silicon panel all by themselves. They are the greenest solar by far.
“We’re excited to work with Sunflare – it’s just a beautiful fit,” said Hill. “Sunflare has the cleanest environmental footprint of any of the solar panels out there. As a global citizen that’s the most important. And it’s thin, so it nestles right into the standing seam roof, so from an aesthetic point of view it’s great. Totally invisible. Installation is super easy too. It’s held secure with roofing adhesive. Genius.”
LifeEdited worked with the home’s metal roof manufacturer to pick a color that is very close, if not identical, to the color of the Sunflare panels so that the panels can “disappear” into the roof.
Philip Gao has followed Graham’s work. “I’ve been interested in what LifeEdited has been doing with space and aesthetics, and overall sustainability. To be working with them is fantastic.”
The panels work well in low light. The day the Sunflare team was there, the house had just hosted 4 days of a full house with hot showers and all. The battery was down to 12%, and Graham look a little worried, as the day was rainy. But by the time we finished taping a conversation with him, the battery had reached 25%.
The prototype home produces more energy and water than it consumes and incorporates innovative technologies and life-sustaining architectural designs. In addition to the solar power, he has included composting toilets and water catchment.
The home has four bedrooms, sleeps eight and can accommodate 20 for dinner.
A nascent fruit orchard surrounds the house, and as it grows will add to the overall sustainability.
“We’re trying to make a really great house that has the functionality of a house much larger than it is and one that is extremely green,” said Hill. “This isn’t about sacrifice. We are creating a very compelling way to live in a paradise.
”And for Sunflare whose mission is about changing the world through CO2 reduction and energy production, this was a truly natural partnership.
For more information please contact:
Laura Baumgartner
lbaumgartner@asylumpr.com
Remove yourself from daily stress and recharge your life in a Vistabule teardrop trailer with roof-integrated solar energy. Now you can find peace way off the grid and still have a piece of home. Lights? Fan? Phone? Computer? Camera? Refrigerator? Heater? Not to mention the snuggly bed and a kitchen that would make most New Yorkers envious.
The design of the Vistabule Teardrop trailer harkens back to the 1950’s, but the amenities are oh, so new – starting with built-in solar panels.
Outdoor adventurists can have flexible solar panels built into the roof, capturing solar energy throughout the day. That makes it easier to power your stuff, so once you are ready to lift your kicks as evening falls, all you have to do is open the wine.
The optional, customized panels are flexible and bend with the curve of the trailer’s roof to keep the Vistabule’s beautiful design line highly refined.
Unlike traditional silicon panels, Sunflare’s solar panels are thin and lightweight, adding no drag and virtually no poundage to the trailer. So “going solar” won’t slow you down.
The other amenities also leave the 50’s in the dust. Vistabule features several large windows, a full-size sofa bed, interior and exterior lights, a two-burner cooktop, a sink with running water and a remote fan, as well as storage space for all your gear.
The camper even has a collapsible coffee table and drop-down nightstand tables. The trailer itself is light and can be towed by almost any car.
Bert Taylor CEO Minnesota Teardrop Trailers, manufacturer of the Vistabule. “When we first started our business, we wanted to make a camping trailer that was beautiful, energy-efficient and would easily blend technology with human comfort. Adding Sunflare solar collection panels to our Vistabule trailers substantially lengthens the time campers can be off the grid, and greatly enhances the entire camping experience.”
Sunflare modules can charge 2 cells phones fully, run the lights, a fan, charge a computer to 30%, run the fridge, and the heater for 3 hours a day, for 2 1/2 rainy days straight. After that, you probably want to pick up and drive somewhere to recharge your battery, and find another beautiful vista, a new point of view, or an off-the-beaten path fishing hole. Have sun? You are good until the cows come home. Or you do.
“We’ve worked with Minnesota Teardrop to make it easy to factory-install the Sunflare modules on your spanking new trailer or have them retrofitted to your current gem”, said Philip Gao, CEO of Sunflare. “We want to be flexible.”
Just like the panels.
Battery Options
Quote from the road
Beth and Mike Miller took a Vistabule trip to Canada:
“Having solar, propane and a Zodi portable hot water shower meant being completely self-contained and comfortable! Pulled in at the same time as a pair of 5th wheel trailers. We were set up in ten minutes; it took them three hours.”
For more information please contact:
Ben Talplacido
ben@sunflaresolar.com
After a combined 18 years of relentlessly pursuing the perfect CIGS solar technology, Sunflare and their European Research & Development arm, Midsummer, have received IEC certification on their SUN2 solar panels. IEC is the leading certification organization that prepares and publishes the International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
The Sunflare/Midsummer team is the first organization to successfully mass-produce precise, flexible, light, affordable CIGS solar panels. They have totally reengineered the manufacturing of CIGS panels with their Capture4 technology.
Philip Gao, Sunflare’s CEO said, “The science was mostly there for CIGS. What was required was innovative equipment matched with a precise formulation of the cells. Capture4 is a cell-by-cell manufacturing process with the highest degree of precision and the cleanest environmental footprint. This allows us to do what no manufacturer of CIGS thin film has done before—mass-produce efficient, flexible solar panels.”
Part of that precision comes from a high degree of monitoring system. Each cell has a QR code that records the exact conditions of every manufacturing step for uniform quality.
When asked what took the industry so long, Gao replied, “It’s a classic case of getting the right hardware and software together.”
Sunflare provided a finely-honed formulation and worked tirelessly with their innovative equipment partner to create the proprietary manufacturing process. The resulting system is a compact, fully automatic deposition system for CIGS solar cell manufacturing. It’s designed for high throughput, operational stability, optimized layer uniformity and superior material utilization.
“We have shown that we are the leading provider of turnkey production lines of flexible thin film CIGS,” said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer. “Our focus on lightweight flexible modules appeals to the market, as well as our use of sputtering for all layers, and that the production process is environmentally superior to silicon and other thin film productions.”
The collective Sunflare team says that they are motivated by the vision of making renewable, solar energy available and affordable to all--from a village in Africa that has never had access to electricity to the buildings in the largest urban cities. Gao said, “Ultimately, there should not be a roof or car built without solar. Our vision is that everything built under the sun is powered by the sun.”
Shown below:
Capture4 covers the sports arena "Vikingahallen" (the Viking's hall) and is in the city of Sigtuna, north of Stockholm. The building is divided into two full-size halls, an A-hall 20 X 40 Meters and armor that takes about 600 people and a B-hall hall 20 x 40 meters used for training.
For any press related inquiries, please reach out to
info@sunflaresolar.com
